Canton, Massachusetts · Saved source text
FINCOM 20210324 Minutes
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Canton Finance Committee Minutes Voted on: 4/21/21 801 Washington Street Vote: 7-0-0 Canton, MA 02021 Meeting Minutes March 24, 2021 Finance Committee Members Present: David Clough, Dan Cole, Emilio Mauro, Tim McKenna, Reuki Schutt, Tom Theodore, Cindy Thomas and Wai Wong. Finance Committee Members Absent: Rob Barker. Guests Present: Josh Cohen, Chair, Conservation Commission; Canton Little League John Connolly, Chair, Select Board Jen Fischer -Mueller, Superintendent, Canton Public Schools Derek Folan, Assistant Superintendent, Canton Public Schools Nichola Gallagher, School Committee Ellen Jones, Finance Committee Recording Secretary Michael Loughran, Select Board Kristin Mirliani, Chair, School Committee Barry Nectow, School Business Administrator Mark Porter, Clerk, Select Board Mike Rota, President, Canton Little League Board Randy Scollins, Finance Director Opening: Chair McKenna called the virtual meeting via Zoom to order at 7:00 p.m. Approval of Agenda: Chair McKenna reviewed the agenda. New Business Article 31 — Appropriation for the Construction of Bathroom, Storage and Snack Shack Facilities at Kennedy Elementary School Fields Mr. Scollins referred to meeting documents forwarded to him by the Canton Little League (see meeting documents). Mr. Rota showed schematics of the concession stand. Mr. Rota read from a prepared statement (see meeting documents). Some of those highlights included the following: • Encountered substantial roadblocks with funding, prevailing wage costs, construction roadblocks and unforeseeable increases in materials costs. • There are countless hours invested in this project. The project is fully vetted by the Zoning Board, Conservation Commission, School committee, Recreation Department, Danny Erickson, all the town's PTA organizations and sports programs that use the complex. • These four athletic fields benefit the Town's baseball and softball programs, football, soccer, lacrosse, and field hockey programs as well as Kennedy School field day participants. Canton Little League has hosted many regional and state championship tournaments as well as several pitch, hit and run statewide events. • While the cost of this project totals over $1 million, it is the least expensive project in recent years that affects the greatest number of children, their parents, siblings, grandparents, and other extended family members. People must leave the fields to find water and sanitary facilities. • The Recreation Department used to provide sanitary facilities at all the fields. Over time, the restrooms at Devoll Field and Ponkapoag Field were shuttered, and the porta-potties removed. • Canton Little League had no choice but to supply, maintain and pay for seven plus porta potties throughout the Town at a substantial expense to the league. Over the past three years Canton Little League has worked with the Recreation Board and through the Recreation Department have opened the shuttered restrooms but only if Canton Little League maintained them. Mr. Cohen provided the following information regarding the project: • This project has been going on for six years. They have received funding from the Community Preservation Committee as well as from private events. FINCOM 20210324 Minutes.docx Page 1 of 9 4/18/21